Sottimano Barbaresco, Fausoni, 2004

Barbaresco delivers some surprising drops. I discovered this during my first trip to the region when I ordered an espresso from the sweet little old lady that ran my pensione. When she delivered quite literally a drop of coffee in the bottom of my very small cup I quickly ordered another knowing it wouldn’t touch the sides. I didn’t sleep till the next night.

Lesson #1: the Italian Ristretto.

Heart racing I set off to check out the vineyards of Nebbiolo that circle the town. Vigorous growth and canopies standing near on two metres tall, I began to dread that my preconceptions of Italy’s full-bodied, alcoholic, tannic wines would be cemented at the various appointments I’d lined up for the afternoon. But what I tasted that day opened my eyes.

Lesson #2: the Italian ‘Pinot’.

Any lover of high-end Burgundy will appreciate the elegance that Nebbiolo planted in the white calcerous clay soils around Piedmonte’s Barbaresco can deliver. Beautifully perfumed but with incredible length on a medium to full-bodied palate – two traits I’m always very excited to find in the same wine.

In the outstanding 2004 vintage, the Sottimanos had a monopoly on the South-West facing Fausoni vineyard, famous for delivering exceptionally floral yet powerful wines.

It’s not only the Ristrettos of Barbaresco that make my heart race. This is fine wine in anyone’s language.

:::O:::

O = Organic: farming without the use of inputs that can have adverse effects. ‘Non-systemic’ fungicides and pesticides are used in place of ‘systemic’ chemicals said to enter the ‘blood’ of a plant (akin to antibiotics in the human world).